Air-pressure device



Nov. 3, 1936. A AIK 2,059,785

AIR PRESSURE DEVICE Filed April 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor:

Arnold (Salk b9 Attgs.

NOV. 3, 1936. A GAIK AIR PRESSURE DEVICE Filed April 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figure 4 Inventor: Arnold GQ'LK by W Attgs.

Patented Nov. 3, 1936 liiiilf'E d'l'ES YET QFFICE Application April 29,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an air-pressure device and more particularly to a device adapted to force objects through or out of conduits, drains, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved air-pressure device which may be operated with little efiort and which provides an exceedingly tight seal with a drain or conduit opening etc. A further object is to provide a portable air-pressure device which may be operated accurately and without danger of the back flow of materials within a drain or other conduit. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a broken longitudinal sectional View showing a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan vieW; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the valve stem and guide, a portion of the outlet pipe being shown in section; Fig. l, an-enlarged detail sectional view showing the lower portion of the apparatus; and Fig. 5, a broken bottom plan a view of the device.

In the illustration given, A designates a pressure vessel or chamber; B, a pump; and C, a sealing device.

The pressure chamber or tube A may be of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, the tube A is closed at its upper end except for the central perforation it through which extends the valve stem l l. Into the lower end of tube A is threaded an outlet pipe l2 5 having a portion thereof extending into the interior of the tube and providing a valve seat E3.

The pump B is supported by a strap l4 formed integrally with the tube or casing A. The pump may be of any suitable construction. In View of the fact that the pump is of well known construction, a detailed description is believed unnecessary. A tube l5 connects the bottom of the pump with a side wall of tube A; and a check valve it of well known construction permits air to flow from pump B into conduit IE, but prevents the back flow of air. It will be observed that the pump B is supported at a spaced distance from tube A so as to be out of the way when the pressure device is being centered in a drain for operation.

The valve stem M is provided with a spring abutment ll which serves to support a compression spring it between it and the top wall of 55 casing A. Above casing A is a threaded extension is to which is secured a threaded sleeve 20. Between sleeve and stem 5 l is a sealing sleeve 2! of rubber or other suitable material and a clamping nut 22 is threadedly secured to the upper portion of sleeve 20 and serves to compress 1935, Serial No. 18,973

and seal the upper portion of the sealing sleeve 2!.

A supporting handle 23 is carried by arms 25 secured to the top wall of casing A, the center of the handle 24 being directly above the valve stem H. The end of the valve'stem ii is provided with a handle 26. It will be observed that the handle 25, when the valve stem is in its lower position, is spaced from the handle 24 at a convenient distance so that the fingers of the operator may readily grasp the handle 26 to draw it toward handle 24. This construction permits accurate control of the valve when the device has been centered properly with respect to the drain.

etc.

The lower end of valve stem H is threaded to engage a valve support H, a valve 28 of rubber or other suitable material and an interiorly threaded valve guide 29. The valve guide 29 is provided near its lower end with cross flanges 39 which are adapted to engage the inner walls of outlet pipe 52, while at the same time permitting air to rush through the outlet pipe when the valve is lifted. The flanges 3Q keep the valve stem ll centered with respect to casing A and outlet pipe E2.

The outlet pipe i2 is provided below the closed end of casing A with a ball-supporting bell 3 I, the bell being clamped between the threaded collars 32 and 33.

The sealing member 0 preferably comprises a sponge rubber ball having a closed or watertight skin 3 The ball is provided with a small central opening through which the outlet pipe I2 is pressed. The upper portion of the wall is con- I fined within the bell 3 9.

While in the drawings, the ball is shown touching the lower edge of the bell, in actual operation, a substantial portion of the ball is pressed up-- wardly to fill the concavity of the bell. Should the lower portion of the ball be worn away in actual. use and rendered unsatisfactory as a seal, the ball may readily be reversed in position. The contour of the upper side of the ball may be other than spherical and may be of such shape as to render it efiective for use with particular types of drains, etc. For example, the upper side of the ball may be substantially concave. The user could then, at his option, use the lower uniformly curved side of the ball, or he could reverse the ball to use the upper side with its particular contour.

In the operation of the device, the pump B is manipulated to fully charge the pressure tube A. The ball C is then placed in an open drain and pressed downwardly therein so as to form a complete seal. When the ball has been centered under heavy pressure and occupies the desired position, the operator draws the valve handle 36 toward the handle 24 upon which his hands are placed in exerting the pressure. The air is released through the raising of valve 28 and passes about the guide flanges 30 and into the drain pipe. The stop I! prevents the valve from being raised sufliciently high to permit the guide 28 to be drawn out of outlet pipe l2.

If desired, a pressure gauge A may be connected with the upper portion of easing A, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2.

Air-pressure devices have been used for many years for removing obstructions from drains, etc.; however, such devices have been difficult to operate with accuracy and in their operation, have frequently allowed liquids and materials in the drain pipe to be forced backwardly around the sealing member and into the room. Rubber cups, disks, etc. have been found unsatisfactory because if they are made sufficiently stiff to resist the pressure, they do not form a sufficiently tight seal. The sealing ball C yields sufiiciently under high pressure to adapt itself to every slight contour of the drain edge or surface while at the same time, in its compressed form, it is sufilciently rigid to resist any back pressure. By employing a valve construction of the type shown and in which the operator may grasp the valve handle while pressing upon handle 24, the discharge of air can be accurately controlled and properly timed with the centering of the sealing ball C. The device can be handled with speed and with ease.

While in the foregoing description, I have set forth a specific construction as an illustration of the principles of my invention, it will be understood that variations may be made therefrom Without departing from the spirit of my invention. The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with an outlet pipe, a rubber ball centrally perforated and adapted to tightly receive the terminal portion of said pipe, and bracing means associated with said pipe and engaging the rear portion of said ball.

2. In combination with an outlet pipe, a sponge rubber ball perforated centrally to receive said outlet pipe and having an air-tight skin, and a bell support associated with said pipe and engaging the rear portion of said ball.

3. In combination, an outlet pipe, handle means for exerting pressure on said outlet pipe, a resilient sealing ball centrally apertured to receive said outlet pipe, and brace means carried by said pipe and engaging the rear portion of said ball.

4. In combination with an outlet pipe, a pressure container communicating with said pipe, a manually operable valve controlling the flow from said container to said outlet pipe, and means for supplying a gaseous material under pressure to said container, 2. rubber ball provided with an opening extending through and adapted to receive a portion of said outlet pipe, and bracing means associated with said pipe and engaging the rear portion of said ball.

ARNOLD GAIK. 

